Kegley’s grand slam propels New Kent Lady Trojans’ to regular season title

New Kent's Lady Trojans' softball team celebrate with the championship trophy after their shutout victory over Poquoson.

Robb Johnson photo

New Kent’s Lady Trojans’ accomplished their first goal of their 2024 Spring campaign: capturing the Bay Rivers District Championship.

The Lady Trojans complied a 7-0 shutout Monday afternoon against the Poquoson Lady Islanders, clinching the regular season title in impressive fashion and avenging an earlier season loss.

Behind great pitching on both sides, the game remained tied until the bottom of the fourth inning. After a Sydney Eubank walk, Hannah Tober’s base hit brought her home. Tober would cross home plate herself courtesy of Abbie Kegley’s double to provide the Lady Trojans a 2-0 lead.

But in the bottom of the fifth, New Kent’s bats flustered Poquoson. With the bases full for the home team, Kegley stepped up to the plate and cleared the bases with a grand slam over the left field fence. After the Lady Trojans’ celebrated, Libby Britt followed it up with a home run of her own, extending the hosts’ lead to 7-0, an advantage that would remain the rest of the way.

After the contest, New Kent Lady Trojans’ Head Coach Maria Bates talked about her team’s accomplishments.

“I am so proud of these girls,” she said. “This was huge. We adapted and we started to pass the bats arounds and get those hits. I am just proud of this moment.”

New Kent improves to 16-2 on the season.